FESTIVAL TEAM

GEOFFREY PETER DOBBS

(FESTIVAL FOUNDER)

Born just a week after Stalin died, Geoffrey lived for 14 years in the Soviet Union, 4 years in Poland and 2 years in the former Yugoslavia, with interval years in India, Italy and England. Of Anglo-Irish and Australian parents, his father was a diplomat and mother a journalist turned best selling author. Geoffrey was educated at Trinity College, Dublin and Trinity Hall, Cambridge. After leaving university he went to seek fame and fortune in Hong Kong, where on a holiday he discovered Ceylon and bought the Island of Taprobane and later is credited with starting boutique hotels in Galle Sri Lanka. He was swimming in the sea in Weligama when the tsunami hit and set up Adopt Sri Lanka, which spent over 4 million dollars alleviating the plight of many Sri Lankans. He is a keen sailor and has crossed the Pacific on bamboo raft and the Indian Ocean on a traditional Omani dhow. He set up the Galle Literary Festival in 2007. He was honoured by the President of Sri Lanka for services rendered to tourism and for the work he did after Tsunami.

Contact Geoffrey at: ff@galleliteraryfestival.com

JILL MACDONALD

(FESTIVAL CURATOR)

Jill Macdonald holds an M. Phil. in English Literature from Balliol College, Oxford. She was for many years Principal of The British School in Colombo and as founding Principal of The Study, continues to teach Advanced Level Literature while pursuing her passion for music, dance and art. She is delighted to contribute her wide engagement with contemporary writers and writing to the Fairway Galle Literary Festival and looks forward to building on the outstanding work of the Festival Founder and three previous Curators, to bring a lively and varied field of first class writers to centre stage in January 2018.

Contact Jill at: fc@galleliteraryfestival.com

SUNELA SAMARANAYAKE

(FESTIVAL DIRECTOR)

Sunela is currently reading for an MBA from Warwick Business School and holds Associate Memberships with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, UK & the Certified Practicing Accountants, Australia. She continues to work in Corporate Finance at a leading Investment Bank in Colombo. Having been the Volunteer Coordinator for the past 3 years, Sunela is thrilled to be a part of the festival in this new and challenging role. She looks forward to working with her multitalented team, to bring forth the 10th edition of the Festival.

Contact Sunela at: fd@galleliteraryfestival.com

ALVIN VAN GRAMBERG

(FESTIVAL MANAGER)

Alvin presently works full time in event consultation and management, following his tertiary education in Hospitality and Events at William Angliss Institute, Melbourne, Australia. Having worked in different capacities with an array of commercial events the experience under his belt both locally and internationally has helped build up his reputation in the field. Alvin welcomes his new and bold role as the festival manager and looks forward to being part of a diverse team while set to deliver the 10th installment in Sri Lanka’s anthological literary Festival.

Contact Alvin: fm@galleliteraryfestival.com

Umadharshini Kumarasingam

(Festival Assistant)

With over a decade in Banking Operations and Management, Uma welcomes the challenge of being the Festival Assistant in 2019 head first. Qualified as an Associate of Accounting Technicians (AAT) with numerous qualifications in Banking & Finance, she now adds new experiences under her belt with the Fairway Galle Literary Festival.

Excited to be contributing to the success of FGLF 2019, She anticipates working with the Festival Director & Festival Manager and to produce a successful 10th edition.

Contact Uma at: festivalassistant.fglf@gmail.com

KNOW THE TEAM

BOX OFFICE COORDINATOR – SHENALI DHARMAWARDENA

CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL CURATOR – TRACY HOLSINGER

CURATORIAL ASSISTANT – THIRANGIE JAYATILAKE

FESTIVAL LIAISON OFFICER – SHENAL DE SILVA

GALLE COORDINATOR – AZWAAN YASEEN

GOURMET COORDINATOR – WIDYA KUMARASINGHE

GROUND TRANSPORT COORDINATOR – YAMINDRI PERERA

MEDIA & TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAMME COORDINATOR – SALUKA KOTAGAMA

NORTH SOUTH UNIVERSITY COLLABORATION COORDINATOR – JEYADARSHANI RATHNARAJAH